V845 volleyball all-stars: Przybocki a dominant hitter

When Pine Bush's Meredith Przybocki reared back in front of the net this season, preparing to put away another kill, opponents had a few options.

JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ

When Pine Bush's Meredith Przybocki reared back in front of the net this season, preparing to put away another kill, opponents had a few options.

They could challenge her wholeheartedly, put on a brave face and hope for the best or take cover. Many of Przybocki's opponents chose to dash. That was the power of her big game.

"When Meredith was hitting the ball well, when she was on, she hit the ball as hard as anyone we've had," Pine Bush coach Frank Sobieck said. "You could see a lot of players ready to bail."

That's high praise, considering Pine Bush is the premier volleyball program in Section 9, reloading with talented players each year for the past decade. Przybocki, the Varsity845 Player of the Year, may be the most impressive athlete of them all.

At 6-feet tall and without a trace of body fat, Przybocki could pass for an Olympic athlete. As for her jumping ability, Przybocki credits her work in the high jump for the Pine Bush track team. Przybocki finished fifth in the event at the state indoor meet last season.

Przybocki competed in the pentathlon in the spring and is weighing offers from Division I colleges for both volleyball and track.

As dominant as she's been as an outside hitter, it's still been an adjustment for Przybocki. She moved from middle hitter midway through last season and admits it was a learning process.

Przybocki, a three-year starter, also had to step up as a senior leader. Not a problem. She guided Pine Bush, once again the favorite, to another Class AA title.

Last season, she started to gain a reputation for her hitting. Her goal this year? Back up all the hard-hitting hype, which Przybocki did, soaring above the net before dealing out winner after winner.

"People have told me that I am intimidating at the net," she said. "I still feel like I have to prove myself. They might have that suspicion, but I have to show them that I'm better, that I can shut them down."

jrodriguez@th-record.com

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